Keeping Faith Focused

Romans 10:5-13

Well, it’s that time again... the time of the year, that is, when I clean out my closets. It happens when I switch my clothes for summer. I sort and I route and I toss all sorts of things. And I love the way it feels when I shed myself of so many of the things I don't really need any more. You may not know this, but in lots of ways I'm a pack rat. Someone once accused me of having a “Great Depression” mentality-- you know, keeping things I don't really need for a rainy day. And to some degree that's true. But every year, about this time, I TRY to shed myself of some of the stuff I pack away every winter. If you haven’t used it for two years you probably won’t miss it... Well, the year we moved to Cleveland, I decided to use that as my guide. I gave away just about everything... and then one Christmas our younger daughter, Carey, came home looking for something or another to take it back to college with her. In the middle of the big search for whatever it was, I realized I had given it away. That, needless to say, didn't set well. She accused me of caring so little for her that she won't have anything to inherit. SO I went back to my pack rat ways. But every Spring I TRY HARD to shed just a little bit.

The truth is, in a world of attics and closets and garages and storage bins and utility sheds and rental places for storage, we all collect far more “stuff” than we need for our journey in life. And all it does is weigh us down and wear us out, trying to keep up with it all.

· When I first started off to college, I could have fit all my worldly possessions in the smallest U-Haul- It you could rent and even that was only half full.

· When I was in seminary the minister I worked under at Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, KY told me how he and his wife agreed when they first got married that they would NOT accumulate a lot of furniture and other “stuff” because if and when God called them to go someplace they didn't want to be bogged down with a lot of worldly possessions.

I really wish I could travel more lightly in this world than I do. It would probably be good for all of us to travel a little more lightly. Instead we tend to accumulate sooooooooooo much unnecessary baggage in life. And this is true spiritually as well as just in our secular /material lives. It would be so much healthier for us if we would keep our faith clear and simple and focused - to the point … If we could just focus in on what Jesus taught and did, how he lived... and not clutter it up with so much of our own stuff, -- I mean like creeds & doctrines, dogmas, & traditions & policies. I think we'd all be a lot better off in our spiritual lives if we could do that – keep it simple... Of course, I don’t mean “simple” in the sense of stupid or uneducated, but “simple” in the sense of clear and focused... not complicated and uncompromised.

When I was in school I wasn’t “hot” on the professors or text books that used such overly academic language that I couldn’t understand what they were talking about. And I cared even less for the students who used theological jargon all the time… because only the professor knew what they meant. That’s why William Barclay became such a favorite of mine. Barclay was a classic Bible scholar -- highly educated in history, languages, cultures Biblical criticism, and the like -- but when he wrote or lectured or led prayers, he used language that the average, ordinary person like me could understand. And the way I saw it, Jesus did pretty much the same thing -- especially when he chose to teach in parables -- stories from everyday life which contained timeless truths.

Likewise hen it comes to our faith, I believe we all need to keep it focused … prioritized … boil it down to the heart of the matter … keeping simple enough that everybody can understand. After all, isn't that what Jesus did in his Sermon on the Mount… with the Beatitudes… and with his parables… and lessons about God's Realm? Some Bible interpreters have suggested that might even be why Matthew’s gospel comes first in the New Testament. -- Not because it was the earliest written, because it wasn't -- or not because it was any more important than the others, but because Matthew organized his gospel around five blocks of Jesus’ teachings, which functioned to make them easy to remember. Certainly for the Jewish people, it made Matthew’s gospel the popular. And, as I said, some have suggested that this is possibly why it comes first in the New Testament.

Or look at Paul’s Letter to the Romans. No doubt Romans is the most theological of all of Paul's letters. You might even say it's difficult and complex in parts. But its basic themes are very straight forward and to the point. 1) Take the theme of “righteousness” for example. Righteousness simply means… having a right relationship with God, SLIDE: and with your fellow human beings. 2) Or “salvation”-- Paul says … very simply … yet deeply profound, in Ephesians 2:8 “you are saved by grace … through faith.” Who can’t remember that? It means: God’s grace … God’s love for us … is so great that God wants everybody to be saved … to find fullness of life … both in this world … and the next. God’s grace is offered to everyone, yet it's only by faith that we receive it. Simple … yet profound. The righteous shall live by faith … and the faithful shall live by righteousness. These were two of the most important and to the point things Paul had to say about what it means to be a Christian…

And what does it mean, what does it take to be a Christian anyway? The truth is, throughout the 2000 years or so of Christian history, churches and Christians have so complicated the answer to that question with so many different creeds and doctrines … rules and regulations … policies and moral rules of conduct … that people don’t’ know which way is right. We debate such thing s all the time even still. Yet listen to what Paul says in Romans 5:9. It’s put so clearly and simply: “If you believe with your heart … and confess with your lips … that Jesus is Lord … you will be saved.” Believe and confess … believe and confess … believe and confess. How straight forward and to the point that is.

Why is it that we Christians so often clutter it up and make people jump through doctrinal or behavioral hoops? But, of course … the key to such a simple, straight-forward statement as Paul's is to make sure you say what you mean and mean what you say. If you say it but don’t mean it, it's no good. And whether or not you really mean it is witnessed in your daily life style and your priorities.

Jesus was a Master at keeping the faith focused and to the point. When someone came up to Him and asked, “What is the greatest and most important commandment ?" he replied “You shall love the Lord with all your heart … and with all your soul … and with all your mind … and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30) And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) This is what we call The Great Commandment. It summarizes all of the Law and all of the prophets. How much clearer - or simply put - could it be? Love God and love your neighbor. But we clutter that up, even those of us who think we don't.

What it means to be a Christian has just got to be confusing to someone who's not been raised in the church... And according to statistics, there is a HUGE group of people out there in that category today -- people who really need to know Christ and the Good News Christ brings to lives. Could you confidently -- or even lackingly so – answer their questions.

· Precisely what does an unchurched person – some want to know -- one who may be contemplating Christianity need to believe in order to follow Christ?

· Is being a Christian the stuff you believe or is it the way you live?

· Are you really Christian if you say you believe something, but then you turn around and live inconsistently with that belief? I could list more...

The world has all sorts of questions that we need to be able to answer -- both in our words and by our living .

If we’re ever going to be able to speak adequately about what it means to be a Christian, with answers that make sense in today's world, I think we're going to need to learn to speak in simple, focused language (like Jesus.) We're going to have to LIVE what we PROFESS. We're going to have to figure out what's really at the center of it all... set aside some of our theological prejudices and keep our faith focused and to the point; which will enable us to get along better as Christian brothers and sisters. Which will help the world SEE what it means to be Christian... Otherwise we’re clanging gongs and noisy cymbals...

And I'm not just talking about in any one particular congregation here; I’m talking about as Christians across the board. We’ve somehow managed, since Christ walked this earth, to divide ourselves up into so many little theological camps, we Christians, that we can’t even count them… and we get all hung up on which way is the best – spending far too much time focused on things that don't really matter, and not nearly enough time on things that do – on BEING Christ’ s arms and legs in this world. We bicker over so many things that we don't have any time left to do justice … to love kindness … and walk humbly with our Lord! (Micah 6:8) Which IS, I think, the essence of what it means to love God and love your neighbor... and also what it means to be a Christian as well!

The world today is very complicated and confusing -- and getting more so all the time. Being a Christian shouldn’t – & doesn’t have to be -- all complicated and confusing. That’s not to say it isn’t challenging… But it shouldn’t be impossible to understand… that’s one of the reasons I love the UCC so much… we TRY not to complicate our faith journey with too much excess baggage and other stuff, but to keep it as simple and to the point as possible. Love, God, Accept and Love your neighbor... and Work for a better world in the name of Christ... So, my prayer today both for us as individuals AND as a congregation, is that we would

· ...focus our hearts and minds upon Jesus -- all that he said, all that he did, and all the ways he lived and invited US to live;

· ...that we would strive to learn more and to grow more in our faith every day -- giving that truly top priority in our lives;

· ...that we would to be open and receptive and responsive to the surprising movement of God's Spirit in our midst – who is always, always calling us to acts of justice, kindness, and humility… for that is the Way of Christ.

If indeed we do these things and live in these ways, we’ll show the world by our very living that what it means to be a Christian!

PRAYER: Dear God, help us to focus clearly and simply on what it means to belong to you, to always say what we mean, and mean what we say … and may our daily living reflect that we mean it. Lord, help us to shed the excess baggage of both our spiritual and secular lives -- that we might find the freedom and fullness of life that you offer. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Cookie Cutter Christian
Sermon by Brett Blair
Romans 8 : 28-30
Ordinary Time 17

Exegetical Aim: Key verse: 29.

Props: Cookie dough or Play-Dough (TM) and two or three different cookie cutters, and enough cookies to give one each to the children.

Lesson: Do you know what time it is? Cookie Time! Now usually in church it’s not polite to eat or drink unless we’re having communion. But today we’ll all get a cookie. But first, I want to show you how cookies are made. You take water, butter, sugar and flour and mix it together with any flavorings that you want, like peanut butter, chocolate, vanilla, or . . . sardines, or . . . onions! Don’t those sound like good flavors? (response)

Then you take the dough and flatten it out. Now comes the fun part. Take a cookie cutter, and carefully cut the dough. What does the cookie look like? (response) Right, it looks like the cookie cutter. This circle of dough has been cut by the cookie cutter, hasn’t it? And no matter if it is cooked or not, it will lay on the tray as a circle. The bible says that we should be “cut” in the image of God. The word in the bible is “conformed.” Say conformed with me. (Conformed) The cookies conform to the cutter. Whatever the cutter looks like, the cookie will look like it.

Application: In the Bible, it says that God wants us to be conformed to the image of Jesus. What do you think that means? (response) If conform means to be cut-out like a cookie what does the Bible mean when it says to conform to the image of Jesus? (response) Yes, it means that we should try to be like Him. He was simple. We should be simple. He loved. We should love. He served God, we should love God. So the next time you eat a cookie, or see a cookie cutter, you are going to remember that you need to be what? Conformed to the image of Jesus.

Let us Pray: Thank you God for sending us Jesus. Help us to be conformed in His image, so that we may live our lives like His. Amen.

As each child leaves, give him/her a cookie.

The Pastoral Prayer:

O God of the sacred center, the living center of all life, we approach you this day in prayer, ready to be touched and transformed by your Spirit.

Some of us are here today and we need to be lifted up. We are discouraged and confused, hurt and wounded. Take the broken pieces of our lives and put us back together, fill us with a new sense of purpose, a renewed sense of joy, that wonderful peace that passes all understanding.

Some of us are here and our cups are overflowing with the goodness of life. Help us to live with gratitude, with vitality and generosity, and help us to know that it is only in you that we live and move and have our being.

For the joy of being in church each Sunday, dear God, we give you our thanks. Today is a special day for this congregation, as we once again receive new persons into the community, your church...

Help us to never take this congregation and its ministries for granted. Help us to seek and find ways to make our church stronger.

Help and guide us, as we endeavor to move into a visioning process once again, to keep open hearts and open minds to the many, many possibilities you are always offering to us in this world and community... Speak clearly to us as we attempt to hear, to discern your dreams, your wishes, your will for our lives and for this historic congregation as we move into the days, months and years ahead. Dear Creator, show us the way...

And help us to learn better how to be a community of faith. Teach us again, O God, that the strength of a church is measured not so much by how we reach out to one another but by how we reach beyond ourselves to a hurting world. Inspire us to keep the presence of Christ alive in this world by allowing Christ to live within the deepest places of our lives. May your Spirit not only help us to find the truth of our faith, but the truth about ourselves.

We ask now you not only to be with us as a congregation, but to be with our world, our nation, our city as well. Bless the children. Support the elderly. Lift up the hopeless. Open up the strong. Help us to find in you the sacred center of life and love. In Christ’s name we pray . . . together as One... “Our Father who art in heaven...” Amen.

INTRO TO LUKE

In the ancient days there was in effect only one way of spreading a message abroad and that was by word of mouth. Newspapers did not exist; books had to be hand-written, and a book the size of LukeBActs would have cost over ,40 per copy to produce. Radio and television had not even been dreamed of. That is why Jesus sent out the Twelve on this mission. He was under the limitations of time and space; his helpers had to be mouths to speak for him.

They were to travel light. That was simply because the one who travels light travels far and fast. The more a person is cluttered up with material things the more he or she is shackled to one place. Of course, this is true not only of the material world, but in the spiritual dimension as well. We are called to travel lightly in this world, that our spirit might not be bogged down.

Luke 9: 1-6

Then Jesusa called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ATake nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor moneyCnot even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.@ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

Let us give with joy our gifts to God, as a sign of our deep devotion and covenant faithfulness.

DEDICATION PRAYER

Dear God, use these freely given gifts for your good purposes. We pray that through giving, our faith might deepen. In Jesus= name we offer them. Amen.

INTRO TO ROMANS

It can be much easier, on the one hand, to criticize someone you do not know or with whom you do not have anything in common. On the other hand, it sometimes can be easier to criticize one=s own family than anyone else. The Apostle Paul, after his conversion, said some very harsh things about his own people, the Jews. He has told them truths which were difficult for them to hear and bear. The Jewish people, of whom Paul was One, believed that the way to God was through the Law. As a result, they placed great importance upon following the letter of the law. Sometimes, as we all known, that can be difficult. In the following passage, Paul expresses concern for those who think in this way... that salvation can only come from following perfectly. According to Paul, faith is not the new law.

Romans 10:1-2; 9-15

Brothers and sisters, my heart=s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened... if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, >No one who believes in him will be put to shame.= For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, >Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.=

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, >How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!=

PRELUDE

The chimes and the beginning of the prelude are a call to silent,

personal preparation for the worship of God. Please turn off all cell phones and pagers and if you must talk, do so quietly.

*Please stand if you are able, but feel free to sit at any time.

Bold type indicates congregational participation.

*OPENING HYMN ##??????

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

Yellow prayer cards should be passed to Bryan or Rev. Chenault

during the passing of the peace.

*CALL TO WORSHIP:

Leader: Why do we gather for worship?

People: We come searching for answers of faith and salvation.

Leader: How does one attain God’s saving grace?

People: Some say through good works and acts of charity.

Leader: Others would say the answer is found in following God’s law.

People: The real answer is found in faith alone.

*RESPONSE:

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION(unison)

Loving God, we invite your presence into this place today. We recognize that each of us make our way here for our own personal reasons. Some of us need a break from the world... from family members... from people in general. We need a break from all the noise that seeks to infiltrate and intrude upon our sacred appointment with you and this faith filled community. Our personal wants and desires are to have alone time with you, most Holy God. So we invite you into our lives this day. And we ask for your loving and tender Spirit to be in our lives, forgiving us where we have failed and filling us with your life-giving energy for the living of our days. Amen.

PRAISE MUSIC - (Children come forward as the music is being sung.)

So they know Seek Ye First?

*CHILDREN’S MOMENT

(Children????????????????)

THE PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Sharing our Mutual Joys and Concerns

The Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer (Please feel free to use any version of The Lord’s Prayer with which you are accustomed.)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS

We invite you, during our time of offering, to sign the

Hospitality Booklet at the end of each row and return it again,

noticing names and faces of those with whom you are worshiping.

After the service, be sure to take a moment to greet those worshiping with you, especially those who may be new among us.

Invitation to the Offering

Offertory Music:

*Doxology

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;

Praise Holy Spirit, Comforter:

One God, Triune, Whom we adore.

*Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Dear God, use these freely given gifts for your good purposes. We pray that through giving, our faith might deepen. In Jesus’ name we offer them. Amen.

(Congregation may be seated.)

THE FIRST LESSON Luke 9:1-6

THE SECOND LESSON Romans10:5-13

THE MESSAGE “Keeping Faith Focused”

THE RECEIVING OF NEW MEMBERS

*ALL: We welcome you with joy into the life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of being the church. We want you to truly be part of us by joining us in weekly worship, sharing social times together, praying and celebrating and even crying together with us. By the power of the Spirit, may we continue to grow side-by-side, and be witnesses together to God’s good news.

*OUR CLOSING HYMN #293 Sweet. Sweet Spirit

*COMMISSIONING

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

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